Problem-solving
A toddler participates in a shared peekaboo book reading focused on anticipating what a young child sees.
[Invite a toddler to share a book with you. Greet the toddler by name.]
Our book is about what a little boy sees when he wakes up in the morning!
[Show book cover. Point to the little boy peeking out.]
Here is the little boy. He is peeking out! The little boy is playing peekaboo when he peeks out.
[Place the book briefly in front of your face, then peek out and say “peekaboo!” Invite the toddler to do the same. Show enthusiasm for the exchange.]
The little boy looks like he is laughing. I think this is going to be a fun book!
[Open the book and hold it close to the toddler. Ask the toddler about the picture and respond positively to each reaction. Example: “Yes, the little boy is waking up and saying ‘peekaboo!’”]
[Read the first page aloud.]
What do you think the little boy is going to see on the next page?
[Pause for the toddler to respond and to create anticipation.]
Let’s turn the page to find out!
[Continue to read and talk about the pictures and words in the book using strategies, such as the following:
The boy in our book saw many different things when he woke up. The little boy played peekaboo! We had fun thinking about what the little boy would see. Who does the little boy see at the end of the story? (you!)
Problem-solving
Toddlers look at and discuss clues for figuring out what animal or object is on the next page of a peekaboo book.
Invite several toddlers to share a book with you. Explain that we can play peekaboo when we read the story. Example: “This book is called Peek-a Who? That sounds like peekaboo! We can play peekaboo when we read this book.” Begin reading the book, encouraging toddlers to make the targeted sound on each page. Respond positively to each toddler’s attempts to make the sound. Example: “Madison, you can say ‘whooo’ just like an owl!”
Before you turn each page, encourage toddlers to think about what could be behind the hole. Emphasize clues shown in the book’s picture. Example: “I see black spots. What do you think could be hiding behind the hole?” (Pause for toddlers to respond.) Let’s turn the page and see!”
Read the text slowly and enthusiastically, and show excitement when the animal or object is revealed in a picture on the next page.
When you reach the last page, spend time playing the game of peekaboo with toddlers. Toddlers will enjoy watching you place your face behind the page and saying “Peek-a-you!” Laugh with the toddlers to show your enjoyment. Invite each toddler to look at his/her reflection in the mirror, and to place his/her face behind the page. Show excitement as toddlers play peekaboo. Encourage toddlers to say the word ‘peekaboo’ as they play.
Some toddlers may prefer to watch and listen to descriptions of the clues and perhaps say “peekaboo.” Other toddlers may eagerly participate in opportunities to look at and talk about the clues, and guess what animal or object is on the next page. Some toddlers may wish to give little or no attention to a discussion of the clues because there is a lot of fun in finding out what’s on the next page. If some toddlers wish to rush, resist the temptation to also rush and encourage toddlers to consider the clues before turning the page.
It may be helpful to again discuss clues after finding out what’s on the page. There is cognitive benefit in helping children connect the animal or object to the clues before and after the “discovery.” Toddlers who are familiar with the book from previous use may enjoy demonstrating their memory skills by telling others what is to come.
Toddlers are not expected to independently make predictions based on the clues. Your leadership in looking at and considering the clues is important to their problem-solving experiences in this session.
Extra support
Enrichment
Problem-solving
A toddler participates in a shared book reading focused on what a young boy in the book sees and in a follow-up peekaboo game with the caregiver.
Be Prepared: Secure a scarf that is large enough to fit over an adult head.
Invite a toddler to read a book and play a peekaboo game. Read the book with the toddler, pausing on each page to talk about clues in the pictures regarding what the little boy will see. Encourage the toddler to say “peekaboo” with you at appropriate points in reading the book. Show enthusiasm as you turn each page. Ask questions that encourage more than a yes or no response about what the boy in the book sees or might see. Example: “The little boy sees his friend! Do you think the boy is surprised to see his friend? Why?”
At the conclusion of the book, introduce the scarf and invite the toddler to play peekaboo with you. Begin by placing the scarf over your head and encouraging the toddler to remove it. Laugh with the toddler as you say “peekaboo!” when the scarf is removed. Invite the toddler to place the scarf on his/her head and to remove it, saying “peekaboo!” Introduce the teddy bear and invite the toddler to play the peekaboo game with the bear using the scarf. The toddler may want to repeat the game several times.
Support the toddler’s efforts to think about your reactions to his/her peekaboo actions with the teddy bear. Example:
This two-part activity supports two different sets of cognitive skills. The book reading offers opportunities to look at and think about clues in anticipation of what is shown on the next page. The activity invites the toddler to take the view of the young boy in the book. This is the beginning of an important skill in considering how others think or feel about a situation. Emphasize taking the boy’s point of view. Example: “What do you think the boy will see?”
The peekaboo game with a scarf supports the toddler’s understanding that things (living or not living) exist when they cannot be seen. The technical term is object permanence. The toddler’s control of the scarf adds to the excitement of showing you that something he/she has hidden (the child’s head, the teddy bear) is still with us. Support this focus with comments, such as “You are still here!” or “The teddy bear did not go away. The teddy bear is right here. I just could not see the teddy bear when you covered it up!”
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: Peek-a Who? by Nina Laden, basket of small toys that represent the animals/items in the book
Place the book and basket of toys on a low table. Invite several toddlers to play peekaboo with the animals/items by placing them behind the holes in the pages of the book. You may also wish to provide cups or small containers for toddlers to hide the animals/items under. Talk with toddlers about their ideas and actions as they interact with the materials.
Materials Needed: Peek-a Who? by Nina Laden
Children of all ages can enjoy this book. Babies will enjoy listening and watching the other children. After the book reading, invite older children to play peekaboo with younger children.
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